Help us demand smaller class sizes

Happy Holidays! I hope you and your family are enjoying togetherness and rest during this festive season.

Please join the UFT in demanding that New York City elected officials and the city Department of Education set new limits on class size in the wake of COVID-19. We've always known that reducing class size is integral to student achievement and equitable schools, but now it's also become a public health issue.

We're gathering for a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 9, in support of a bill that would reduce class sizes. We'll meet in the financial district at 12:30 p.m. Please join me, your fellow public school parents and UFT representatives in showing your support for this vital legislation. Email me at rrobinson@uft.org for further details and to RSVP.

Check out the upcoming events and resources below.

Sincerely,

Rob Robinson
UFT Manhattan Parent and Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Tuesday, Dec. 14: Come to a free online information session titled Rights of Undocumented Students in New York State from 6 to 7:30 p.m. On Dec. 7, the workshop will be presented in English with translation of the question-and-answer session in Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Punjabi and Russian. On Dec. 14, the presentation will be in Spanish. Learn more and register.

• Tuesday, Dec. 7, through Monday, Dec. 20: The city Department of Health will offer free, online Healthy Homes workshops in English and Spanish about a range of topics including medicine safety, toy safety and pest-control safety. See the schedule.

Student and family resources

• User-friendly guide to the FAFSA: Do you and your child need a hand filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? There’s a free guide designed for first-generation college students and the adults who help them available online in 10 languages. Check it out »

• Adult education for students ages 21 and older: The city Department of Education offers adult education classes for adults seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma, learn English as a second language or pursue career and technical education programs including computer literacy, health careers, plumbing and more. Learn about offerings and how to enroll »

• Discounted tablets for families receiving public assistance: If you receive public assistance, including SNAP or Section 8 housing, you may be eligible for a $10.01 tablet through the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. Learn more and claim your device »

NYC programs and resources

• Job opportunity at City Cleanup Corps: A city program is hiring 10,000 New Yorkers to help wipe away graffiti, power-wash sidewalks, create murals, tend to gardens and revitalize neighborhoods. Learn more and apply »

• Curbside composting is coming back: The city’s popular curbside composting program will return this fall to collect food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste and turn it into compost or renewable energy. Learn more and sign up »

• GetFoodNYC map: Check out an interactive, online map of food pantries, soup kitchens, farm stands and groceries stores at GetFoodNYC »

• $100 vaccine incentive: If you or your child isn’t yet vaccinated against COVID-19, you have the opportunity to win $100 if you use vax4nyc to book your appointment »

• Mental health support from NYC Well: Get free, confidential mental health support via phone, text or chat, and access mental health and substance use services in more than 200 languages by calling 888-NYC-WELL, texting “WELL” to 65173 or visiting nyc.gov/nycwell »